Men take a vested interest in fall fashion statements

Vests are popping up everywhere, harkening back to the dominant menswear trend of the 1970s and, before that, the 1930s.

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After a recent Chicago Bears game, in a warm and sweaty locker room, quarterback Jay Cutler faced the media in a three-piece suit, looking like he had an appointment on LaSalle Street within the hour.

Vests are popping up everywhere, harkening back to the dominant menswear trend of the 1970s and, before that, the 1930s. Hart Schaffner Marx is advertising three-piece suits made at a big tailoring plant in suburban Des Plaines. Elite Italian tailor Brioni, whose apparel is sold in stores such as Neiman Marcus, is showing suits with vests sporting lapels of their own.

The younger generation, rebelling perhaps against casual dressing-down fashions, has been quick to don vests. Michael Marsoobian, a 31-year-old pharmaceutical sales rep who lives in Lake Bluff, wears three pieces year round—even in the heat of summer. He just ordered a peacockish double-breasted vest from Chicago's Nicholas Joseph Custom Tailors to complement his newest suit.

“It's a separating factor when I'm selling against my competition,” says Mr. Marsoobian, who also wears bow ties. “People appreciate the fact that I take the time and effort to dress up and look good.”

At Nicholas Joseph Custom Tailors based in River North, owner Nicholas Hansen says demand for vests is way up this year, with lawyers leading the way. He guesses the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire,” set in the Prohibition era, with the men all wearing vests, has helped inspire the three-piece comeback.

“Vests make a suit very versatile,” Mr. Hansen says. “Guys take their suit jackets off and with a vest they can still look like the most dressed-up guy in the room. Or they wear the vest and jacket with a pair of jeans.”

At least a few veteran vest-wearers are watching the new fashion trend with bemusement. A. Robert Abboud, 82, CEO of the old First National Bank of Chicago in the 1970s, started wearing three-piece suits when he was promoted to vice-president in 1959 and has never stopped.